A ship passes through the Miraflores Lock in the Panama Canal as seen from the Miraflores Visitor Center Observation Deck. Panama is poised to become the "next Costa Rica", though tourists have yet to begin flocking to the central american country. The Capital, Panama City, is home to the Panama Canal and, due to the former US military presence, is one of the continents capitals most comfortable for people from the United States. The country offers a variety of eco-tourism opportunities as well as a capital that mixes a modern feel with a colonial center.